Canadian Copyright Board OKs Download Tariff

The CANADIAN COPYRIGHT BOARD on FRIDAY (3/16) approved a tariff for online music services in which 7.9% of the price of permanent downloads must go back to the copyright holder, CANADA's CHRONICLE HERALD reports. For downloads that require a web subscription and for on-demand streaming music, the rates are 5.9% and 4.6% of the cost of a month's subscription, respectively. The tariff applies retroactively from 2005 to 2007.

In 2004, the CANADIAN MUSICAL REPRODUCTION RIGHTS AGENCY (CMRRA) and the SOCIETE DU DROIT DE REPRODUCTION DES AUTEURS had asked the board to look into what would be fair compensation for the legal downloading of music. They wanted 15% or 10 cents per permanent dowloads, whichever was greater; for subscription-based downloads, they asked for $1 a month or 10% of the subscription cost.

Weâ??re always disappointed when we donâ??t get what we ask for, but we do take very seriously the copyright board's process.

CMRRA Pres. DAVID BASSKIN said, "Naturally, we’re always disappointed when we don’t get what we ask for, but we do take very seriously the copyright board's process."

« see more Net News